Match of the Day: Everton vs Tottenham analysis

Spurs' pragmatic approach to football is set to take a creative turn as several key players return from injury, according to Match of the Day pundits Theo Walcott and Danny Murphy.

The Tottenham Hotspur boss, Antonio Conte, was praised by his former Chelsea teammate for Spurs' ability to win games without becoming overly dependent on flair. Instead, Conte's pragmatic approach has seen Spurs focus on set pieces, which ultimately led to a convincing 3-1 victory over Everton in the last match.

Walcott believes that Tottenham will continue to be effective with their current squad, but notes that when players like Richarlison and Dejan Kulusevski return from injury, Conte's team will become much more creative on the pitch. The Brazilian and Swedish winger have been Spurs' most prolific goalscorers this season, and Walcott expects them to make a significant impact once they regain fitness.

Murphy agrees that Spurs' current set piece strategy is a major strength, but warns that opposing teams may start to adapt to it. The former Liverpool midfielder believes that Conte's team will need to become more dynamic if they are going to overcome top teams in the league.

Despite this, Walcott remains confident that Spurs have the quality and depth to challenge for top-four honors. With several key players returning from injury, he expects Tottenham to mount a strong second-half of the season, pushing them closer to European contention.

In contrast, Murphy is more cautious, warning that the return of injured players will be crucial in determining Spurs' success. He notes that the team's ability to adapt to different opponents and situations will be put to the test as they look to build on their recent win against Everton.

Overall, both pundits agree that Tottenham's pragmatic approach has been a major factor in their recent success, but also recognize that the team's creative spark is key to unlocking their full potential.

I gotta say, I'm loving Spurs' underdog vibe right now . Conte's pragmatism has been serving them well, and set pieces have proven to be a game-changer for them . But when those big players like Richarlison and Kulusevski get back on the pitch, it's gonna be a whole different story . They're gonna take it to the next level and show everyone what they're capable of . I'm not surprised Walcott is confident about their top-four push – Spurs have been playing some solid football . But Murphy's right too, if Conte can keep adapting and making adjustments on the fly, they might just pull off something special .

[Image of a football player looking bored with an "I'm good" expression ]

[ GIF of a set piece being scored, followed by a goal celebration ]

I'm not sold on this "creative turn" just yet . Conte's squad seems solid enough right now, and I don't think we're going to see a major overhaul in terms of playing style. We've seen teams try to adapt to set piece strategies before, it usually ends up being a bit of a gimmick. The return of Richarlison and Kulusevski will definitely help, but can Spurs really sustain this level of performance over the course of an entire season? They're due for a bump in the road imo .

So I was watching that match between Spurs and Everton and it just goes to show how important set pieces can be in football, right? Like Conte's approach might not be the flashiest but it definitely gets results. And now with Richarlison and Dejan Kulusevski coming back from injury, I'm curious to see how creative they'll be on the pitch... will Spurs finally become that team that everyone loves watching?

The thing about Conte's approach is it's all about finding balance, you know? They're not gonna become the most exciting team to watch, but they'll get the job done . It's like a well-oiled machine, and when everyone's on the same page, they can be super effective. And yeah, Richarlison and Kulusevski will definitely bring some flair when they come back – it's gonna be interesting to see how Conte adjusts his team around them .

But I do think Murphy has a point about opposing teams adapting to their set piece strategy. If they don't mix things up, they might get caught out . And yeah, the second half of the season is gonna be crucial for Spurs – if they can stay consistent and make some smart adjustments, they've got a good shot at top-four .

I'm just curious to see how Conte handles the creative players when they come back – does he stick with the same approach or try something new? Either way, it's always fun to watch .

I think Spurs are gonna have some fireworks when those injured players come back! Richarlison and Dejan Kulusevski are absolute game-changers, no doubt about it Conte's pragmatism is solid so far but with those two back in the mix, I expect them to be much more explosive on the pitch. Murphy's right though, it's gonna get tougher for Spurs to keep up that set piece magic against top teams

I think Spurs are gonna crush it when Richarlison and Dejan Kulusevski come back from injury they've got some serious firepower up front . Conte's strategy is solid, but we need to see them take some more risks on the pitch . If they can find that balance between defense and offense, they'll be unstoppable ️.

I'm imagining a Venn diagram with "Pragmatic" at the top and "Creative" at the bottom . Spurs are currently at the intersection of these two circles, but when Richarlison and Kulusevski come back, they'll be more like the overlapping areas – full of energy and unpredictability .

I'm also picturing a graph with "Set Pieces" on the x-axis and "Flair" on the y-axis . Spurs have been dominating set pieces lately, but when they're back to 100%, I think we'll see them start taking more risks and being more dynamic on the pitch ️.

Anyway, can't wait to see what the rest of the season holds for Tottenham!

I'm not sure if I'd say Spurs are ready for top-four just yet , they've got some decent wins under their belt, but you can't underestimate the rest of the league. This injury return business could be a game-changer, Richarlison and Kulusevski are huge goalscorers so it's gonna be interesting to see how Conte adjusts his tactics. Maybe we'll get to see more flair from Spurs, but for now I think they're just trying to balance their set piece strategy with a bit of creativity.

I THINK IT'S SUPER COOL THAT SPURS ARE GETTING THEIR KEY PLAYERS BACK FROM INJURY!!! THE RETURN OF RICHARLISON AND DEJAN KULUSEVSKI IS GOING TO MAKE SUCH A BIG DIFFERENCE ON THE PITCH, IM OBLIVIOUS TO WHY Conte WASN'T USING THEM MORE BEFORE THEY GOT HURT

I'm kinda thinking Conte's got it right with his set piece strategy , I mean, 3-1 over Everton isn't bad at all... but on the other hand, I think we're gonna see a whole different Spurs team when Richarlison and Dejan are back out there, all that flair is gonna shine through . But then again, Murphy's right about opposing teams adapting to set pieces, that might just neutralize our advantage ... still, I've got faith in Conte and the lads, they'll find a way to mix it up and still get results .

I love how Spurs are taking it one step at a time, you know? They're not trying to be too flashy or showy, they're just focused on getting the job done. And you can see it in the results, they're consistently beating teams like Everton without having to get all fancy with their play. It's all about being smart and adaptable. Of course, when Richarlison and Dejan come back from injury, Spurs will be a whole different beast on the pitch! The creativity they bring is going to take them to another level. And I'm all for it - let's see some exciting football from Tottenham!